CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — The newest restoration crew working to save MacClellan Island isn’t made up of landscapers or city workers; it’s a small herd of hungry, four-legged lawnmowers.
After a failed prescribed burn last year, the Chattanooga Audubon Society brought in goats from Circle N Stables to help clear out invasive plants like English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle that had taken over nearly 80% of the island.
“The goats are phenomenal at getting into this dense — I keep calling it a jungle — because you can’t walk through it,” said Jim Stewart, executive director of the Chattanooga Audubon Society.
The 19-acre nature sanctuary sits in the middle of the Tennessee River, and just over a year ago, it was nearly impassable. The Audubon team tried a controlled burn in March 2024, but when the plants refused to catch fire, local fire officials had a simple suggestion: goats.
That’s when Christina Herndon, owner of Circle N Stables, stepped in…